ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Human Rights criticised on Friday a judicial report on the Kharotabad firing incident and announced to present a comprehensive report in parliament for a debate.
“The report by Justice Hashim Kakar opens with appreciation of agencies for a crackdown against a racket. We will bring to the notice of the Chief Justice of Supreme Court and Chief Justice of the Balochistan High Court the controversial and non-professional judicial inquiry report,” the Chairman of the Committee, Mr Riaz Fatyana, said.
He said that both Russian and Uzbek embassies and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had cleared all those killed in the incident of having any links with any criminal or terrorist organisation.
He said that no weapons had been found with the victims, but they were murdered in cold-blood. Commandant of Ghazaband Scouts Col Naveed Safder representing the IG of FC Balochistan also attended committee’s meeting.
When asked by Mr Riaz Fatyana as to whose bullets killed Frontier Corp constable in the Kharotabad incident, Col Naveed Safdar gave no satisfactory reply.
“Why is the constable’s name and death not mentioned in any of the reports?” Mr Fatayana asked, implying that the matter has been hushed up by authorities concerned.
“Investigations are under way and punishments will be handed down to all those guilty in the Kharotabad incident,” Col Safdar told the meeting of the committee.
A letter to committee members from Sabir Hussain, the elder brother of the FC constable killed in the Kharotabad incident, had drawn the attention of the committee towards the mysterious incident.
“He died of a bullet wound on the side of his pelvis. He bled to death because authorities did not carry him to hospital on time.
There is no satisfactory response from officers concerned as to how my brother was killed, especially when there was no resistance from the other end,” Sabir Hussain wrote in the letter.
Advisor to the PM on Human Rights Mustafa Khokhar criticised investigation techniques of authorities in Balochistan and quoted figures that cases had been registered cases against 43 individuals, but 40 of them were acquitted.
“This speaks volumes of the poor investigation methods of FC and police officials,” the adviser to PM said.
He wondered why the FC constable’s death was kept secret.
“This single event raises our suspicions of a fake encounter,” Mr Khokhar said.
MNA Farahnaz Ispahani also criticised the role of the FC personnel.
“Our recent visit to Balochistan and the thorough questioning of police and FC officials all confirm our suspicions of use of excessive force against innocent individuals.”
Arguments then drifted to the Mastung incident in which 26 Hazara pilgrims were gunned down.
Ms Farahnaz Ispahani said the government had failed to provide protection to Hazaras who were being killed in Balochistan.
Referring to the Mastung incident, Col Safdar told the meeting that proper coordination with Hazara settlements living in far eastern and western ends of cities were mandatory to avoid such incidents.
“In Mastung incident the movement of the pilgrims was not communicated to authorities concerned,” he said, rejecting observations from members of the committee that innocent people were killed because of FC’s ignorance.
Ms Farahnaz Ispahani, however, did not agree with Col Naveed Safdar’s answer and accused him of misleading members.
“The pilgrimage was planned months ago. Pilgrims did not just one day decide to travel. They had been requesting for necessary protection. One by one they were all gunned down. Their relatives were also gunned down one by one,” she said.
Col Naveed Safdar said that in given resources it was not humanly possible to man all areas and guard all corners.
MNA Riaz Fatyana ended arguments on the issue and said a complete report would be submitted in the House and the Speaker would be requested to initiate a debate on both issues.
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